Controller for electric motors.



m. 820,504. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

A. S. KROTZ. CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

v APPLICATION FILED NOVA, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Flnvenfoz a l/vitnemea I 2 I Gfloznego PATENTED MAY 1 5', 1 906 A. s. KROTZ. CONTROLLER FOR'ELEGTRIG MOTORS APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1904.

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lmmmum No. 820,504. PATENTED MAY15, 1906.

A. 8.. KROTZ. CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS: PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP OVA, 1 904.

wi 60 -j -7 6 Z I "PATENTED MAY 15, 1906. A. s. KROTZ.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED 3mm, 1904;

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v ALVARO SVKROTZ, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CONTRQLLER FOR ELECTRIG EWQTQRSQ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15,..1906.

Application filed November e, 1904:. Serial No. 231,339.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, ALVARO S. Knorz, a citizen of the United- States; residing at Springfield, inthe county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controllers for Electric Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in controllers for electric motors, and especially to controllers adapted for use,'-'with electric carriages.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, safe, and economical controller especially adapted for electric carriages and to secure different speeds with the most economicaluse of the electric current.

placed in respect to the controller that the partsthereof can be utilized for both the runand the current ning and for the charging connections.

A further object of my invention is to provide a controller by means of which the battery may be utilized in sections in connection with the fields, so that the battery-sections can be used either in multiple or series with the fields of the motor either in multiplesor series,- thus giving a large number of differen-t speed and power combinations without the use of a rheostat and without undue resistance in the operating-circuits.

A further object of my invention is to provide in connection with the-controller and locking device a brake-lever whereby the operation of the controller to supply the current to the motor is prevented while the brake lev'er is in a set position and, further, to provide means-for moving the. controllinglever'to' the oii position when the-brake is applied, .thus preventing waste of current and danger to the motor by having the brake applied at the same time.

. attain these objects by theconstructions shown in the accompanying drawings, whichparts may be en'mloved.

, Figure. l is a side elevation of the controlling device. Fig. 2 is-an end elevation, and Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the same. Fig 4 is a sectional elevation showing the arrange ment of the reversing drum or switch and also showing the brake connections with the controller. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the chargingplug. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangements of the circuits between the contact-points and the controller, the'batteries, the motor-fields, and

i the motor-armature, and also of the circuits of the reversing switch or drum. Figs. 6 6 6 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing circuits formed by 'the various sets of contacts on" the speed-drum. Fig. 7 is an end view of a part of the controller-frame and the shaft of the controlling-druin, showing the star-wheel and pawl device for holding the controller in different positions of adjustment and also showing a modification in the brake-locking device used in connection with said controller. .Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the contact-points, motor, and battery circuits, showing different number of units or sections in the battery.

Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings, (see particularly Figs. 1 to 4,) a represents the end supports of the controller-frame, which are connected together at the bottom by a bar 6. Jour naled in suitable bearings in the end pieces-a is a shaft 0', which carries what I term a speed-drum c and reversing-drum 0 The speed-drum c is secured to and rotates with the shaft 0, but the reversing-drum c is mounted loosely on said shaft 0 and is adapted to rotate independently thereof. Each of these drums consists of a series of projecting contact bars or blades, those in the speeddrum being marked 0 and those -in the re versing-drum being marked a. Mounted upon the cross-bar 7), but insulated therefrom, is a series of spring-arms b and 6 adapted. to form, with the blades c and c" of the respec tive drums, electrical connections or switches. These arms I) and b are prei'erably formed of two parts of resilient metal, between which the blades are adapted to pass to form the electrical connection. Any arm, however,

" establin a proper ck of contact which Vlil trical connection between thes ploy on the speed-drum 0 four series of these projectlng blades, which bladesare connected together in a manner hereinafter described niore fully described,to the batteries and to the fields and armature of the motor.

The reversing-drum c has preferably two series of blades, with four blades each. Each of these blades is so connected that when one set of blades is in contact with their spring-arms the current will pass in one direction, and when the other set of blades is in contact the current will pass in a different direction. The spring-arms b for the reversing-drum are also electrically connected with the different parts of the machine in the manner hereinafter specified.

To provide ror rotating theshaft c, I provide at one end of the shaft a pinion. c and with this pinion c I mesh a gear-segment d, which is secured to a shaft d, also mounted in the frame-pieces a (1.. To provide for 0seillating the shaft d, I mount upon one end of said shaft cl a head d, which is formed with guides or ways (1 to receive a hand-lever e.- The construction of this head is such that the hand-lever may slide through the head by rocking the hand-lever to impart a rotary or oscillating movement to the shaft df Adjacent to the shaft d and parallel therewith is a short shaft f, mounted in a suitable bearingin one of the frame-pieces a. This shaft is provided at one end with an arm f and at the other'end with an arm f The arm f projects in the proper direction to lie adjacent to the member (1 which carries the hand-lever e and is provided with a curved 7 slot 3 which en a cs over a} in e which projects outwardly from said hand-lever e.

The arm f on the opposite end of the shaft- (see Fig. 4) is' connected by a link f to an j b arm or projection f 5 on the reversing-drumc so that when the hand-lever e 1s moved through the head I) the shaft f is rocked and by 11'. cans of the link connection f 4 rotates or oscillates the reversing-drum 0 upon the shaft 0, this motion, as it will be seen, being ndependent of the movement of the s eeddrum, which is moved only when the s aft 0 itself is rotated. It will thus be seen that the hand-lever e is capable of two movementsone through the head d, which will operate the reversing-drum, and a rocking movement,

which will impart a rocking movement to the i shafts and rotate the speed-drum.

In order to insure that one set or other of the blades of the reversing-drumshall be in -conta ct Witl1 the contacting fingers when the lever is operated to move the speed-drum, means are provided for locking said lever against oscillatory movement except when the hand-lever is moved to the limit of it's be opposite t movement through the head (1 in one direction or the other. Means are also provided for preventing movement of the hand-lever e through the head (2 to effect this reverse movement except when the hand-lever 'is in its off or normal position. This is accomplished as follows: The hand-lever e is preferably mounted to stand vertical in its normal position and to be moved forward to operate the speed-drum to establish the necessary electrical connections through the controller. The gear-segment d, which is mounted on the shaft d, is provided in its back with a cam-groove having three branches (1*, d and d, and a projection on the'arm f is adaptedto engage in this camgroove. The main branch (1 of this camgroove is when the hand-lever e is in its normal position concentric with the shaft f, the other branches. (i and at being concentric with the shaft d, on which the gear-segment is mounted. It will be seen, therefore, that when the hand-lever e is pressed to the limit of its downward stroke, which in this case is in the position for the forward movement of the machine, the cam-groove (1 will be opposite the projection, and the segment (i can be moved back or forth within the limits of said cam-groove. When the hand-lever is raised to its upper ositio'n,"the said projection will e branch at of said cam-groove, and the same'movement can be effected; but at an intermediate point between the upper and lhwer positions of the hand-lever "the projection on the arm f 2 will en age with the branch d 'of the cam-groove anf prevent any movement of the segment in either direction.

The arm f, which rotates theshaft f by the 1 end movement of the lever a, has a curved slot, as before stated. When the lever is in its upper position, this curved slot stands opposite the center of the shaft (1, and thereafter the pin turns naturally in the slot f When the hand-lever e is in its lower posithe slot f is concentric to the shaft,' which will permit the rocking movement of the hand-leverto turn the speed-drum to the different positions desired. 1

Electrical c0nnecti0ns.In order to simplify the connections and render all the parts accessible, I form the electrical connections in such a manner that the terminals are brought upon the bar I), sov that the running connections and the charging connections can be made directly on this bar by means of suitable plug-switches for this purpose. The terminals for the runnin connection are shown at g and g and those or the charging-current at g and 9 Fig. 1. i

For perspicacity I have shown the electrical connections in diagram in Fig. 6, and I have numbered the contacting arms for the speed-drum c from 1 to 7, respectively, and those for the reversing-drum c 8, 9, 10, and 11 and have numbered the contacting blades sition the bladesl and 4 contact with the spring-arms 1 and 4. If the charging-plug,

therefore, is inserted between the terminals 9 and 9 the battery may be charged, there being no other electrical connection between the respective parts.- The motor-armature is connected to the arms 9 and 10, and when the reversing-drum is in the first position the arms Band 9 will be electrically connected at and 11, which when proper electrical connection has, been made with the fields 'ofthe motorwill cause the current to pass through zd/the armature in proper direction to rotate it forward.

When the reversing-drum is in second position, the arms 8 and 10 and'9 and -11 will be electrically connected, which will-cause the current to be reversed, and thus will drive the armature in the opposite direction. The arms 7 and 8', which represent a terminal of the field and armature,'respectively, are normally disconnected and are electrically connected only by inserting the running-plug (shown at w in Fig. 6) between the terminal contactsg and g. If the lever is moved for- -ward to. the first position, the contact, be-

tween the blades 1 and 4 and their corresponding arms is broken and the arms 1 and 3, 2 and 4, and 5 and 6 are brought into electrical connection, which results in establishmg a multiple connection between the battery-sections and the field-coils of the motor in series, these parts being represented in Fig. 6 in the conventional'way, the batterysections being shown at h and h, the field coils at h and h and the armature of'the motorat 71;. If the speed-drum should be moved to the second running position, the

.arms 1 and 3 and 5 and 7 are brought into electrical connection, while 2, 4, and 6 are electrically connected, thus giving a multiple battery connection and a multiple field connection. When it is turned to the third position, electrical connection is established between2 and 3 and 5 and 6, bringing the battery-sections in series and the fields in series, and when turned to the fourth position the battery-sections are in series and the field-coils in multiple, these different combinations giving to the motor different speeds without the aid of a rheostat' or the addition of resistance.

To provide for nreventingthe application of the brake of t vehicle when the current is being supplied to the motor and also to prevent the application of the electric current to the motor while the brake is being applied, I provide means connected with the brake-lever for returning the controlling-lecontmgency whlch may ver to normal'position when the brake-lever is moved to apply the brake and, also to lock the controlling-lever in normal position when the brake-lever is in position to apply the brake. This is accomplished as follows, (see Fig' 41:) The brake-lever 7c, connected to the vehicle-frame and attached by the usual or any suitable means to the brake mechanism, is provided with a stud or projection 7c, which stands adjacent to and in line with a cam-arm W. This cam-arm is formed integral with or connected to an arm k connected'by a cable k or other suitable means to an arm k on the shaft d. This arm k is not at tached rigidly to said shaft, but is held thereon by a pin 7c", which. extends through a slot orrecess 7c in the hub of the arm k which permits a limited movement of these parts one with reference to the other. The camlever k is so formed that at the first movement' of the lever 1c movement will be imparted to the arm'lc suflicient to bring the pin 1c to the end of the slot or recess 1H, and thus lockthe controller-lever 6 against forward movement, and in-the event that the con troller-lever has been in an advanced position this movement will be-sufficient to return it to normal position. A further movement of the brake-lever is after. this initial movement will cause the pin or projectionJc to travel alon a curvedsurface k of said cam-lever, an thus lock the lever k in its position, and as a result lock the controlling lever e against movement, thus preventing any application of the .current when. the

brake is being applied and also cutting off the electric current in case it has been applied by returning the controlling-lever e to normal position. It might occur that for some rea' son the controller would stickas, for instance, the bladeson the speed-drums might become electrically welded to the 00111160. tions-in which case it would be desirable to apply the brake independently of the controlling-lever, and to accomplish this I preferably provide as a part of the connection 15* a spring or elastic link k of sufficient tension to return the controlling-lever and also to prevent it from being moved forward with an ordinary pressure without overcoming the tension of said spring, but which by an unusual pressure will yield sufficiently to permit the brake-lever to be operated independently of the controller. As this is simply a safeguard and is to guard against a possible be quite remote, the unusual effort on. the brake-lever which is sufficient to relieve the yielding device k will be of minor importance.- Instead of this yielding device k the connection k may have a breakable link, which willbreak under an unusual pressure, but which will besuflicient to operate in the usual way under normal conditions.

Various forms of yielding or breakable by a suitable connection it to the brake-la ver. This arm 7c will be normally held out of the path of the star wheel by a spring 7c.

When the brake is applied, the lower end will be drawn outwardly, thus forcing the inner end inwardly in the path. of the star-wheel, preventing the drums from being operated.

his lever k is referably madein two ieces and ivoted together and connected y a spring which will permit a yielding movement between the parts, so that the shaft 0 can be moved in one direction when the brake is on, but not in the other, thus permitting the hand-lever to'be operated to throw ofi the current, but not to put it on.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a controller, the combination of a speed mechanism, reversing mechanism, a hand-lever ca able of being shifted longitudinally to dilihrent operative positions and adapted to operate by said longitudinal movement the reversing mechanism, and

means connecting said hand-lever with the .speed mechanism whereby the hand-lever will operate the speed mechanism in either plosltlon of adjustment, substantially as speci- 2. In a controller, the combination of speed mechanism, reversing mechanism, a

hand-lever capable of being shifted independent of its movement about its ivotal connec tion and adapted when oscil ated about its pivotal connection to operate one setof said mechanism, and when shifted independent of its oscillatory movement to operate the other set of said mechanism, and means for looking said hand-lever against movement to operate the speed mechanism until it has completed the operation of the reversing mechanism, substantially as s ecified. v

3. In a contro ler, the'combination of a speed drum, a reversing drum or switch, a hand-lever, said hand-lever bein adapted to operate the said speed-drum W en given a backward-and-forward movement and to opcrate the, said reversing-drum when given a vertical movement.

4. In a controller, the combination of a speed-drum, a reversing drum or switch, a hand-lever, said hand-lever bein adapted to operate the said speed-drum'w en given a saaeee backward-and-forward movement, and to opcrate the said reversing-drum when given a longitudinal movement, and means whereby the said hand-lever will only operate the said reversing-drum when said speed-drum is in its off position.

' 5. In a controller, the combination of a speed-drum having a plurality of contacts arranged in sets, a reversingdrum, having con.- tacts thereon arranged in sets, and connected inreverse order by use of which the polarity of the motor may be chs ged a battery having two or more sections, a motor having two or more field-windings, said speed-drum being adapted to connect the said battery and motor through various multiple and series combinations of battery and lield, and means for operating said speed-drum independent of said reversing-drum, whereby said various multiple and series combinations of battery and motor may be made irrespective of the particular set of reversing-drum contacts connecting the motor, thereby permitting'a variable speed in either direction and a s1n-' gle operating-lever capable of movement independent of its oscillatory movement adapted to control the movements of both the speed and reversing drums, substantially as specified.

6. In a controller, the combination of a speed-drum, a reversingdrum, an operatin handle, a motor and a battery, saidhand e being adapted to operate the said speed-drum by a horizontal movement and the said re versing-drum by a vertical movement, the said reversing movement operating only when said speed-drum is in ofi position, the said motor-field being arranged in two or more sections, and said battery arranged in two or -more sections, whereby the said speed-drum can connect the said battery and field circuits in series or multiple, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a controller, the combination of a speed-drum, a reversing-drum, an operatinghandle, said operating-handle being slidingly mounted in a head, said head being adapted to operate said speed-drum, a reverse-drumoperating arm, means whereby the said operating-handle can operate the said speeddrum without changing the position of the said reversing-drum, and the said reversingdrum operating by a vertical or raising movement of said operating-handle when the said speed-drum is in its off position.

8. In a controller, the combination of a speed-drum, a reversing-drum, a supportingframe, contact-fingers and contacts, a motor, a battery, an electric circuit, a running-plug, chargmg-plug contacts, said contact-fingers mounted on said frame, two of said contacts being adjacent to each other and adapted to close said electric current through said runhing-plug, and two of said contact-fingers izo adapted to be connected to said battery when connecting device independent of the consaid speed-drumis in the off'position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a controller, the combination with a speededrum and a reversing-drum, of a handlever capable of a forward and a back movement and also of an upanddown movement, means connected with said lever to operate said speed-drum by the forward-and-back movement and for operating said reversingdrum by the up-and-down movement, the connection between said lever and-said speeddrum being such that said speed-drum will be operated by said lever in either the up or down position thereof, and locking means to prevent the forward-and-back movement of said lever except when said lever is at the limit of its movement up or down, substantially as specified.

10. In a controller, the combination of the speed-drum and reversing-drum, a hand-lever for operating said speed-drum by a forward-and-back movement and connections between said hand-lever and said reversingdrum for operating said reversing-drum by {an up and down movement, and locking means to 'preventsaid lever from operating said reversing-drum when said speed-drum has been thrown 1nto operatlon, substantially as specified,

1 1. The combination of the speed-drum, the reversing-drum, and a hand-lever capable of an up and down and a forward and back movement, the forward -andeback movement being adapted to operate one of said drums and the up-and-down movement to operate the other of said drums, means for preventing the forward-and-back movement except when the lever is at the limit of its up or down' stroke and means for preventing the up-and-down movement except when the lever is in its nor-.

mal or off position, substantially as specified.

- 12. In a controller, a controlling-frame hav- 'ing electrical controller-contacting devices connected respectively to the terminals of a battery, field-coils, and the armature respectively of a motor, and charging-plug contacts on said frame for charging said battery, a

troller-contacts' also on said frame adapted to open and close the circuit between the battery and motor, substantially as specified.

13. In a controller for electric vehicles, a speed-drum having electrical contacts adapt' ed to control the speed to the motor, aratchetwheet' on said speed-drum, a brake-lever, a ratchet-pawl, means for causing said pawl to engage said ratchet-wheel upon the operation of said brake-lever, whereby movement of the speed-drum only toward ofi position will be permitted, substantially as specified.

: 14. The combination with a controller and controlling-drum, of a hand-lever for operating said drum, a brake-lever connected to said hand-lever, and means for locking said hand-lever against forward movement when said brake-lever is moved to an operative position, substantially as specified.

15. The combination with the controller and the controlling-lever, of a brake-lever,

means for connecting said brake-lever and said controlling-lever whichindll permit an independent movement of saidcontrollinglever when said brake-lever is in ofi position. and an independent movement of said brakelever when said controlling-lever is in off position but adapted to return said controllerlever to its'normal position when the brakelever is operated, and a yielding or breakable connection between said brakedever and said controlling-lever, substantially as specified.

16. The combination of a controlling-lever and a brake-lever, a connection between said brake-lever and controlling-lever adapted to return said controlling-lever to normal position when the brake-lev er is applied, and a yielding or breakable connection between said brake-lever and said controlling-lever,

substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of October, A. D. 1904..

ALvAno s. KRQTZ.

Witnesses:

CLIFTON P. GRANT, PAUL A. STALEY; 

